Today's Top FTSE Movers

The FTSE 100 (INDEX: ^FTSE) remained defiantly buoyant and gained another 0.6% to end the day at 5,623 points as falling Spanish bond yields and fresh optimism that the eurozone countries will pull together calmed the nerves.

The DAX gained a little, too, up 0.5% to 6,392, even though it is Germany that will bear a large share of any future euro bailouts.

But indexes like these are no more than the aggregate of lots of individual shares, which it is sometimes easy to forget. Here are some of the most talked-about of today's FTSE movers.

Some nice gainsHealthcare Locums enjoyed an early 20% rise on news that American legal action against it is to be dropped, but it fell back to a 15% gain on the day, up to 3.9 pence.

Video technologist Blinkx (LSE: BLNX.L) ended the day 7% up to 40.25 pence after announcing and ad-placement partnership with news outlet Newsy.

Aer Lingus, the Irish airline, gained 18% to 1.10 euros on the confirmation of a new takeover bid from Ryanair Holdings. Ryanair, meanwhile, ended the day on 4.02 euros, 1% up.

Sage Group shares finished with a gain of 5.5% to 268 pence on news of an acquisition in Brazil.

Mixed retail news

Kesa Electricals ended the day down 5% to 52.5 pence. That's better than it might have been, as the former owner of Comet was down 9% in early trading after releasing disappointing year-end figures hit by "exceptionally difficult" European trading.

Home Retail (LSE: HOME.L) saw its shares fall back a little today, falling 4.9 pence to 87 pence for a loss of 5.3%. This followed yesterday's 23% boost to 91 pence, owing to results that showed a halt in the Argos sales decline.

There were mixed movements in the fashion trade, as Supergroup shares rose 8% to 319 pence on no new tidings of its own -- though good results from H&M spurred interest in the sector. Next (LSE: NXT.L) was also affected but found its shares down 6 pence to 3,193 pence.

Turning dirt into cashIt wasn't a good day for the oil and minerals exploration business, as Gold Oil slid 7.3% to 4.1 pence after releasing a disappointing trading update.

Others include Tri-Star Resources, down 11% to 0.7 pence after the release of its latest operational update; Regency Mines, down 6% to 1.65 pence after a laterite project update; and Petrofac (LSE: PFC.L) , down 3.3% to 1,463 pence, despite becoming a selected bidder for the Mexican Panuco project.

Even Cluff Gold, which gained 5% in early trading after a new gold discovery in Cote d'Ivoire, fell back to finish just 1% up on 68 pence. Sirius Minerals, however, gained 3% to 16.3 pence on news of a senior management appointment.

As always, today's news saw some winners and losers -- and perhaps some buying opportunities. For more share ideas, The Motley Fool's "Top Sectors for 2012" report outlines some attractive companies within three favorable industries. The report is free to all private investors -- and you can download your copy now.

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